of brooklyn



5UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

R. J. MANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEAV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO L. A. OSBOBN AND I. J. VINCENT, OF SAME PLAGE.

sKELE'roN Hoor-SKIRT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,051, dated November 9, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R. J. MANN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladies Skeleton Skirts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a perspective side view of a ladys skeleton hooped skirt. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a skirt hoop, showing the manner in which the same is enlarged or diminished. in diameter. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of a hoop showing the manner in which the slide may be made to work upon the hoop.

Similar letters of reference in each of the three figures indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention consists in making ladies skirts by forming a series of hoops, each being cut or parted so as to form two or more adjustable ends so arranged that the diameter of the skirt may be enlarged or diminished by connecting the ends of the hoops in such manner that the ends will slide toward and from each other to enlarge and diminish the diameter of the skirt, in combination with belts or cords crossing the hoops to hold them together.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the particular manner in which I prefer to construct and use it.

Fig. l, A, in the accompanying drawings represents a ladys skeleton skirt made by sewing a series of hoops c c t-o straps CZ, d, d, the said straps being made fast to the waist-band E by means of eyelets or sewing, and I prefer attaching the straps to the hoops by means of clamps in the manner described by me in Letters Patent granted by the United States to L. A. Osborn and I. J. Vincent, dated the 22d day of June, 1858, but it is obvious that instead of straps to connect t-he hoops, cords may be used and may also themselves be connected by threads or cords when desired. Such changes however would all be within my invention when used in combination with such hoops as are herein described.

O, F ig. 2, is a plan view of a skirt hoop showing the slides B, B. It will be seen that, by taking hold of the hoop at O, O, and pulling the same the diameter of the said hoop will be increased by the ends sliding toward each other and vice ,versa the diameter would be diminished, by the ends moving from each other.

The manner of connecting the hoops together which I prefer is as follows, B, B, B, B, Fig. 3, shows the manner in which the slide may be made fast to the hoop O; but this may be done in any other suitable manner and the hoops may be made of any suitable material.

Having thus described the manner of constructing and using my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the construct-ion of ladys skeleton skirt is- The combination of a series of horizontal hoops adjustable in diameter substantially as above described, with bands or cords crossing and connecting them substantially as herein described.

ROBERT J. MANN.

In presence of- MILEs B. ANDRUs, IV. R. WHITEHEAD. 

